Bulls G Lonzo Ball back at practice after emotional return

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball participated in a light team practice Thursday, one day after he took the court for the first time in 2 1/2 years when he played in a preseason game.

Ball played 15 minutes off the bench against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and even made his first shot, a 3-pointer from the corner.

"It was emotional in a happy way," teammate Zach LaVine said at Thursday's practice, according to Chicago Sports Network. "We made sure we got him the game ball because that's a big moment. Nobody has come back from what he's coming back from."

Ball's obstacles included three arthroscopic surgeries and a double cartilage transplant in the left knee. He had not played in an NBA game since Jan. 14, 2022, when he scored 15 points with three assists in 24 minutes against the Golden State Warriors.

"I had a goal to get back on the court and I knew it was going to be a long journey, a long process, but it all paid off," Ball, 26, said after Wednesday's game. "This is what I was looking forward to so I'm glad it's here now and I can go out and do what I love to do."

The Bulls have one more preseason game remaining -- Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers -- before they open the regular season Wednesday on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Acquired by the Bulls in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans prior to the 2021-22 season, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 35 starts with Chicago before being shut down.

He has career averages of 11.9 points, 6.2 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 252 games (239 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-19), Pelicans (2019-21) and Bulls.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan skipped Thursday's practice with an illness.